Hand tool holder

ABSTRACT

A hand tool holder includes a base plate with two arms and a pivot seat pivotally mounted on the base plate between the two arms. The two arms extend from the base plate and each has an open end set opposite to each other. The arm has a connecting portion connected to the base plate and a clamping portion extending from the connecting portion. An indent is defined in the clamping portion and the two indents in the two arms align with each other and are adapted to partially receive a shank of a hand tool. The pivot seat has a concave groove defined in one end of the pivot seat opposite to the base plate. The concave groove in the pivot seat aligns with the indents in the two arms.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a holder, and more particularly to a hand tool holder.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, a conventional hand tool holder in accordance with the prior art comprises a card (60) with an integral tongue (601) extending from the lower end of the card (60). A through hole (61) is defined in the upper end of the card (60) to hang the card on a hook, horizontal post, nail, etc. Two U-shaped bridges (62) are horizontally and separately formed on the lower end of the tongue (601). A slot (621) is defined in the bridge (62) by the surfaces of the bridge (62). A resilient, elastic washer (63) with a central hole (631) is inserted into each U-shaped slot (621) through an opening in the back of the tongue (601).

[0005] A hand tool with a shank such as a screwdriver is inserted through the central hole (631) in the resilient, elastic washer (63). The screwdriver is held on the hand tool holder because the central hole (631) of the resilient washer (63) has a diameter smaller than that of the shank of the screwdriver. Consequently, the hand tool can be hung on a suitable place by using the suspension display card.

[0006] The conventional hand tool holder in accordance with the prior art can hold the shank of the hand tool so the hand tool can be hung on a wall, but it still has several disadvantages.

[0007] 1. The card and the resilient, elastic washer are made from different materials. Usually, the resilient, elastic washer is softer than the card to provide a good clamping force. The manufacturer must use two kinds of material during production of the suspension display card.

[0008] 2. The card and the resilient washer must be manufactured in two distinct processes, and then the resilient flexible washer must be inserted into the slot. The production sequence is inconvenient and needs to be simplified.

[0009] 3. The scope in which the conventional suspension display card can be used is limited because the conventional suspension display card cannot be used to hold a flat tip screwdriver. The head of the flat tip screwdriver is much wider than the diameter of the central hole in the resilient, elastic washer. The head of the flat tip screwdriver will damage or destroy the resilient, elastic washer.

[0010] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantages of the conventional hand tool holder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The main objective of the present invention is to provide an improved hand tool holder that can be manufactured and operated easily.

[0012] To achieve the objective, the hand tool holder in accordance with the present invention comprises a base plate with two arms and a pivot seat pivotally mounted on the base plate between the two arms. The two arms extend from the base plate and each has an open end set opposite to each other. The arm has a connecting portion connected to the base plate and a clamping portion extending from the connecting portion. An indent is defined in the clamping portion and the two indents of the two arms align with each other and are adapted to partially receive a shank of the hand tool. The pivot seat has a concave groove defined in one end of the pivot seat opposite to the base plate. The concave groove in the pivot seat aligns with the indents in the two arms.

[0013] Consequently, the shank of hand tool is clamped and held in place between the arms and the pivot seat because the arms provide a clamping force on the shank of the hand tool to prevent the hand tool from detaching from the hand tool holder.

[0014] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hand tool holder in accordance with the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective of the hand tool holder in FIG. 1;

[0017]FIG. 3 is a front plan view of the hand tool holder in FIG. 1;

[0018]FIG. 4 is an operational cross-sectional bottom plan view of the hand tool holder along line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

[0019]FIG. 5 is an operational front plan view of the hand tool holder in FIG. 1;

[0020]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the hand tool holder in accordance with the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view in partial section of the hand tool holder in FIG. 6;

[0022]FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional hand tool holder in accordance with the prior art; and

[0023]FIG. 9 is a cross sectional side plan view of the hand tool holder in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, a hand tool holder in accordance with the present invention comprises a base plate (10), a pair of arms (14) integrally extending from the base plate (10) and a pivot seat (13) pivotally mounted on the base plate (10) between the two arms (14).

[0025] The base plate (10) comprises a pivot hole (12) defined in the base plate (10) between the two arms (14). A flange (121) radially extends from an inner periphery of the pivot hole (12) flush with one side of the base plate (10). The two arms (14) extend from the base plate (10) on opposite sides of the pivot hole (12). The two arms (14) are Γ-shaped and the open ends of the two arms (14) are set opposite to each other. Each of the arms (14) has a connecting portion (not numbered) connected to the base plate (10) and a clamping portion (not numbered) extending from the connecting portion. An indent (141) facing the base plate (10) is defined in the clamping portion of the arm (14). A guiding portion (142) is formed on a free end of the clamping portion of the arm (14). The indents (141) in the two arms (14) and the center of the pivot hole (12) align vertically with one another.

[0026] The pivot seat (13) is partially received in the pivot hole (12) and is pivotally mounted on one side of the base plate (10). The arms (14) and the pivot seat (13) are on the same side of the base plate (10). The pivot seat (13) is cylindrical and has a concave groove (131) defined in one end of the pivot seat (131) opposite to the base plate (10). The concave groove (131) corresponds to the indents (131) in the arms (14). The pivot seat (13) has at least two hooks (132) extending from one end to engage the flange (121) in the pivot hole (12) to rotatably hold the pivot seat (13) in place on the base plate (10).

[0027] With reference to FIGS. 3 and 5, to hold the hand tool on the hand tool holder, the pivot seat (13) is turned to make the concave groove (131) parallel to the clamping portion of the arm (14). The hand tool has a shank that is put on and partially received in the concave groove (131) in the pivot seat (13). The shank of the hand tool and the pivot seat (13) are turned toward the guiding portions (142) of the arms (14). The clamping portion of the arm (14) is pushed outward by the shank of the hand tool. The shank of the hand tool is clamped between the arms (14) and the pivot seat (13) when the shank of the hand tool passes through the guiding portion and is partially received in the indents (141) in the arms (14) and the concave groove (131) of the pivot seat (13). The arms (14) provide a clamping force to the shank of the hand tool to prevent the hand tool from detaching from the hand tool holder.

[0028] With reference to FIG. 1, a through hole (11) is formed in the base plate (10) so that the hand tool holder can be hung on a wall. Further with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, another embodiment of the hand tool holder in accordance with the present invention can be detachably mounted on a suspension rack (20). The suspension rack (20) is T-shaped and has a handle (21) with a through hole (211) for hanging the suspension rack (20) on a wall and a suspension rod (22) extending from the handle (21). The suspension rod (22) includes two sides each having a T-shaped rail (221) laterally extending from the suspension rod (22). To mount the hand tool holders on the suspension rack, a sliding block (15) extends from each side of the base plate (10) opposite to the arms (14). The sliding blocks (115) align with each other. Each of the sliding block (15) has a groove (151) defined to movably receive the corresponding rail (221) on the suspension rod (22).

[0029] The hand tool holder in accordance with the present invention has the following advantages.

[0030] 1. The hand tool holder is easily operated. The shank of the hand tool is put in the concave groove (131) in the pivot seat (13) to press and rotate the pivot seat (13).

[0031] 2. The hand tool holder is easily manufactured. The arms (14) and the base plate (10) are integrally formed together and the pivot seat (13) is inserted and snapped on the base plate (10). Just only one step is needed to assemble the hand tool holder of the present invention.

[0032] 3. The base plate (10) and the pivot seat (13) can be made of same material so that the manufacturer just need to prepare and use only one kind of material during production of the hand tool holder.

[0033] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hand tool holder comprising: a base plate including two arms extending from the base plate, each of the arms having an open end set opposite to each other, the arm having a connecting portion connected to the base plate, a clamping portion extending from the connecting portion and an indent defined in the clamping portion, the indents in the two arms aligning with each other and adapted to partially received a shank of a hand tool; and a pivot seat pivotally mounted on the base plate between the two arms and corresponding to the two arms, the pivot seat having a concave groove defined in one end of the pivot seat opposite to the base plate, the concave groove of the pivot seat aligning with the indents of the two arms; wherein the shank of the hand tool is clamped and held in place between the arms and the pivot seat because the arms provide a clamping force on the shank of the hand tool to prevent the hand tool from detaching from the hand tool holder.
 2. The hand tool holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arms of the base plate are Γ-shaped and integrally extend from the base plate.
 3. The hand tool holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base plate comprises a pivot hole defined between the two arms and the pivot seat has at least two hooks extending from one end to engage the pivot hole to hold the pivot seat in place on the base plate.
 4. The hand tool holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base plate is adapted to be slidably mounted on a suspension rack which has a handle and a suspension rod extending from the handle, the suspension rod with two opposite sides each having a rail laterally extending from the suspension rod, and the base plate has a sliding block extending from each side of the base plate opposite to the arms and the sliding blocks aligning with each other, each of the sliding block having a groove defined to movably receive a corresponding the rail of the suspension rod.
 5. The hand tool holder as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base plate comprises a pivot hole defined between the two arms and the pivot seat has at least two hooks extending from one end to engage the pivot hole to hold the pivot seat in place on the base plate.
 6. The hand tool holder as claimed in claim 2, wherein the arm has a guiding portion formed on a free end of the clamping portion of the arm.
 7. The hand tool holder as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pivot hole comprises a flange radially extending from an inner periphery of the pivot hole and the hooks on the pivot seat engage the flange.
 8. The hand tool holder as claimed in claim 4, wherein the shapes of the rail and the groove in the sliding block are T-shaped.
 9. The hand tool holder as claimed in claim 4, wherein the arms of the base plate are Γ-shaped and integrally extend from the base plate.
 10. The hand tool holder as claimed in claim 5, wherein the pivot hole comprises a flange radially extending from an inner periphery of the pivot hole and the hooks on the pivot seat engage the flange.
 11. The hand tool holder as claimed in claim 8, wherein the arms of the base plate are Γ-shaped and integrally extend from the base plate.
 12. The hand tool holder as claimed in claim 9, wherein the base plate comprises a pivot hole defined between the two arms and the pivot seat has at least two hooks extending from one end to engage the pivot hole to hold the pivot seat in place on the base plate.
 13. The hand tool holder as claimed in claim 9, wherein the arm has a guiding portion formed on a free end of the clamping portion of the arm.
 14. The hand tool holder as claimed in claim 11, wherein the base plate comprises a pivot hole defined between the two arms and the pivot seat has at least two hooks extending from one end to engage the pivot hole to hold the pivot seat in place on the base plate.
 15. The hand tool holder as claimed in claim 11, wherein the arm has a guiding portion formed on a free end of the clamping portion of the arm.
 16. The hand tool holder as claimed in claim 12, wherein the pivot hole comprises a flange radially extending from an inner periphery of the pivot hole and the hooks on the pivot seat engage the flange.
 17. The hand tool holder as claimed in claim 14, wherein the pivot hole comprises a flange radially extending from an inner periphery of the pivot hole and the hooks on the pivot seat engage the flange. 